Cover News Reporter Zhang Jie Wu Deyu Zhou Bin Shanghai Report
Characters:
Niu Ben, an actor from Shanghai Film Studio, was originally named Zhang Xuejing and was born in Tianjin in 1935. She started acting in movies at the age of 11, playing roles in classic films such as "Longxugou", "Red Detachment of Women", "Legend of Tianyun Mountain" and "Wrangler". For his contribution to Chinese films, he won the Golden Rooster Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2017. In 2024, he won the "Moving China 2023 Person of the Year" award.
Niu Ben (Photography: Wu Deyu)
In 1905, "Dingjun Mountain" directed by Ren Qingtai and starring Tan Xinpei was released, ending the history of no domestic films in China. In 2025, Chinese film will celebrate its 120th anniversary. In the past two decades, Chinese films have emerged with too many good actors, good directors, and good works, which are shining brightly. Actor and film performance artist Niu Ben is one of the best: he started acting at the age of 11 and has been "Ben" (Ben is a variant of "Ben") on the screen for almost his whole life, portraying more than 300 artistic images. Now 90 years old, Niu Ben is still active on the set, and his screen life spans most of the history of Chinese films.
On the evening of April 8, 2024, "Moving China" 2023 Personality Ceremony" was broadcast on CCTV. Niu Ben was named the "Moving China" 2023 Personality. The award speech given to him read: "The poor man who wandered into the movie, the veteran actor who is still trekking, gives life to the character and brings laughter to the world. People ignore his name, but remember the life he shaped. He stands in the spotlight and sticks to boundaries that go far beyond the screen. "
On the Internet, many news about Niu Ben also include his life situation in his later years, such as "Niu Ben, a national first-class actor, is still playing supporting roles after more than 70 years since his debut. , nearly 90 years old and living in a retirement apartment” and so on. At the age of 90, when he should be enjoying his old age, why is he still acting? Why choose to live in a nursing home when you can have fun with your grandchildren? After a lifetime of acting in mostly supporting roles, has he ever felt aggrieved in his heart? Why is he so passionate about pursuing a lifelong career in acting?
With these questions in mind, on April 20, 2024, the cover news "Avenue" Humanities Media Reporting Team went to Pudong, Shanghai, and came to a retirement apartment and met Niu Ben. He was full of energy. He was wearing jeans, brown leather shoes, a jacket, and a peaked cap. He didn't look like a 90-year-old person at all. The living room of Niuben's residence is filled with various trophies and certificates he has received since his career as an artist, including the "Moving China" trophy.
In a friendly, harmonious and trusting atmosphere, Niu Ben shared his 90-year-old life openly and honestly. After several hours of listening and communication, we not only revealed the previous problems one by one, but also deeply walked into a world. The inner world of light and shadow characters, I feel the love and energy of an artist who cherishes film performance as his life, as well as the life experience and insights he has accumulated... This afternoon has become particularly rewarding.
Niu Ben has been acting all his life, and his own life is not a wonderful biographical movie.
Niu Ben’s residence in a retirement apartment in Pudong, Shanghai (Photography: Zhang Jie)
"To be honest, when I started acting in movies, I just wanted to have enough to eat!"
"The poor man who wandered into the movie, the veteran actor who is still trekking" , these 16 words of the "Touching China" Character Award accurately describe Niu Ben's acting career.
Niu Ben had a miserable childhood. He was born in Tianjin in the 1930s. The family suffered from poverty and disease. His parents died of illness on the same day, when Niu Ben was 9 years old and his sister was 4 years old. Niu Ben's birthday can only be inferred from the word "dog" on the door panel to 1935. Niu Ben, who became an orphan, and his sister lived with his brother and sister-in-law, living in poverty.
Niu Ben's brother got an opportunity to work at China Electronics Factory No. 3 (the predecessor of Beijing Film Studio). Niu Ben followed his brother to help in the factory yard, responsible for delivering various items, and became familiar with the factory staff. 11-year-old Niu Ben, on the recommendation of director Xie Tian, got a performance opportunity - he played the role of the village boy "Xiao Niuzi" in the anti-Japanese film "Holy City" directed by Shen Fu.During the filming process, Niu Ben, who was young and inexperienced, was unable to get into the mood for a while, especially in scenes that required crying. He failed to pass the scene after several filming. Xie Tian was so anxious when he saw this that he couldn't help but slap him. Niu Ben's eyes were wet with tears of grievance, and he finally managed to finish the shot. Niu Ben then entered the field of acting. "So people later said that it was Xie Tian's slap that helped me get into the film industry." Niu Ben said.
Because of his good acting, the name of the character "Xiao Niuzi" became more popular with everyone. Niu Ben's real name, Zhang Xuejing, was gradually forgotten. However, at this time, Niu Ben didn't have a deep understanding of the film job. Filming was mainly about finding a job and earning food and clothing. "At that time, I was an actor just to have a good meal. Later, as As my understanding increased, I realized that my work was very meaningful, and acting became my life career. "
In 1947, director Zhang Junxiang was invited to go to Hong Kong to film "Cremation", with the leading actress Bai Yang. Bai Yang recommended Niu Ben to play her "little husband". The young Niu Ben followed the crew to Hong Kong. Before going to Hong Kong, "Xiao Niuzi" approached his mentor Xie Tian and asked him to give himself a new name, "My real name is Zhang Xuejing. At that time, I felt that a three-character name was not fashionable, and a two-character name was more fashionable. And at that time, the movie There are many actors with single names, such as Zhao Dan and Yu Lan. After I told the master, he didn't think too much about it. He happened to see a dictionary next to him, took it in his hand, flipped through it, and saw "Ben". 'The word, just say, I originally called you Xiao Niuzi, and I added three more cows to you, and now you are called Niu Ben. From then on, this name has been called Niu Ben for more than 70 years."
Niu Ben was photographed in Beijing after the founding of the People's Republic of China. After finishing "Longxugou", he returned to Shanghai and became an actor in the Shanghai Film Actors Troupe. At that time, a large number of famous national treasure-level film performing artists such as Jin Yan, Zhao Dan, Bai Yang, Liu Qiong, Zhang Ruifang, Sun Daolin, and Qin Yi gathered here, making it a star-studded event. At this time, Niu Ben had realized that acting was a very important career and worthy of investing his whole life.
Niu Ben (Photography: Zhang Jie)
Movie clips from more than 40 years ago became popular
"This is the vitality of art"
Niu Ben, who has been filming for nearly 80 years, most of the characters he plays are supporting roles. When I was young, I played the role of a little waif, when I was young, I played the role of a little person, and when I was old, I played the role of a little old man. Xiao Pang in "The Red Detachment of Women", Da Liu in "Ding Dong of the Spring", Lao Guo in "The Wrangler", Lao Erliang in "The Old Tavern"... But even for very "small" roles, he can do it. Treat it with all your might. Although the role he plays is "small", Niu Ben takes every seemingly inconspicuous and even small role without a complete name seriously, exerting his own energy to make it shine "big".
In 1982, the movie "Wrangler" directed by Xie Jin was released and attracted nationwide attention. Niu Ben played the supporting role of the herdsman "Guo Chenzi" in it. His vivid and sincere performance impressed many viewers: "The kind, honest and warm-hearted Guo Chenzi", who encountered major setbacks in life and lived on the grassland, and escaped from famine for Xu Lingjun (played by Zhu Shimao) Li Xiuzhi (played by Cong Shan), who comes here and is homeless, protects her as a matchmaker. "Guo Zhizi" pushed open the door of the small earthen house where Xu Lingjun lived and immediately asked, "Old Xu, do you want a wife or not?" His humorous language and sincere attitude became a classic scene in the film.
In the selection of the third China Golden Rooster Film Awards in 1983, Niu Ben won the "Best Supporting Actor Award" for his wonderful role as Guo Zhenzi. In the same year, at the 6th Popular Film Hundred Flowers Awards, "The Wrangler" won the Best Feature Film Award, and Niu Ben won the "Best Supporting Actor" award. More than 40 years later, Niu Ben's superb performance is still praised by a new generation of audiences. Clips and lines from "Wrangler" have been widely circulated on social platforms, especially the clips played by Niu Ben, which have once again become popular all over the Internet.
Niu Ben's autobiography "Playing a Lifelong Little Person" (picture provided by People's Publishing House)
During the filming of "The Wrangler", Niu Ben, in addition to acting himself, also helped young actors come up with many good ideas, all of which were adopted by the director.For example, the scene in the film where Li Xiuzhi takes off her adobe in the yard was Niu Ben's idea. The original design of the script was for Li Xiuzhi to sweep the yard with a broom to show her diligence and quickness in housework. Niu Ben said that this is not good. Sweeping the yard is too vulgar and common, and does not have the characteristics of the Northwest. Taking off the adobe can better show the character's quick and aggressive character. Moreover, when Xu Lingjun came back, Li Xiuzhi was waiting for him. The two looked at each other lovingly. Niu Ben felt that this was not enough, so he suggested putting a piece of mud on Li Xiuzhi's face. Xu Lingjun helped her remove it. This scene is very life-like. , very tender, and also echoes the play of taking off adobe. The exquisite works created by
will always be received by generations of caring people. After so many years, the audience has not forgotten "The Wrangler", which made Niu Ben sigh, "Everyone has not forgotten my scene. This is the vitality of art. Art has a characteristic: as long as you are very real, you can I can travel through time. Therefore, I became a late Internet celebrity, which is both accidental and not accidental. I believe that Internet celebrity is not something you can become famous if you don’t work hard and want to make money. It's nonsense to become famous overnight. It's very sad if the entire society has this kind of distorted values. We often say that it's not gold's fault that the ordinary herdsman I played is so dirty. Did the audience like it? Why did the Golden Rooster Award and the Hundred Flowers Award give me the Best Supporting Actor Award? I think it’s because of his simplicity and sincerity that touches people’s hearts. He speaks quickly and makes his own judgment when he sees others in trouble; Don’t add insult to injury, don’t rub sand in your eyes, be sincere and sincere to you, this is the golden quality. Why this quality shines brighter as time goes by, is because a lot of that kind of simplicity is missing nowadays. "
Cover news reporter interviews Niu Ben at his retirement apartment in Niuben, Pudong, Shanghai (Photo: Wu Deyu)
"No matter how small the role is, he is still a complete character"
Audiences who have watched "Old Tavern" are very familiar with it." "Lao Erliang" is very familiar. This is a supporting role played by Niu Ben. He is named because he only drinks two liang at a time. "Old Tavern" brought together acting talents such as Chen Baoguo, Qin Hailu, Feng Lei, Cheng Yu, Liu Hua, Feng Enhe, Gong Hanlin, etc. Niu Ben was 84 years old that year. Although his role only lasted for 5 days, director Liu Jiang was deeply admired. . "Niu Ben performed with bare feet in the weather at minus tens degrees Celsius and in the pouring rain. The rain would freeze immediately. He insisted on not taking a break and must finish filming this role."
Niu Ben also shared his own reality through this role. Principles of life in China: "The attitude of 'Lao Erliang' in dealing with others is to follow the rules. Unlike those who do business now, there are no rules. If the person has a good relationship with you, give more, and if the relationship is not good, give less. Everyone should have standards and systems. Without rules, there is no rule. This is the duty of the Chinese people. "
Although many of the roles he plays are not male protagonists, Niu Ben is well-known in the industry for his dedication. In the filming of film and television dramas, some scenes need to be completed by stand-ins. This is a very common practice. But Niu Ben said that he never uses a substitute. "I said no, I want to do it myself, I don't want a stand-in. No matter what the horse riding scene is, I have never used a stand-in. As long as I can do it myself, I will shoot it myself. If I can't meet the action requirements of this shot today, I will use a few I spent twice as much time practicing this move because I wanted to recreate this era." When
was filming "Life and Death in a Lioruan", the donkey he was riding was frightened and overturned the 62-year-old Niu Ben to the ground and went into shock. "Because I can ride a horse, I was not vigilant when filming. Unexpectedly, the donkey kicked me so hard that my lumbar spine and sternum were injured, and I fainted."
For the injured, it was a pain in the neck. For the crew, this 100-day shutdown is simply unimaginable. "The cost of food, drink, and outdoor scenes for the crew is huge. The director told me to see if you can insist on shooting two more scenes, and then we will shoot other scenes. He asked me to insist on shooting two more scenes. A close shot.But I couldn't move at that time, and I couldn't even make an expression. What should I do? "
Niu Ben, who did not give up, went to find out about any special painkillers. Some people said that taking an analgesic injection can make the pain inactive for 4 hours. Niu Ben decided to use this method to film during the pain inactive period. He also Further consideration: If the injection is only valid for 4 hours, then you should make good use of it and don't waste it in the preparation stage before filming. He decided to take the painkiller injection when the filming was about to start. He felt pain on the bumpy road to the set. He gritted his teeth and endured it.
The scene to be filmed that day was the character slapping himself in self-reproach. This action was very big, and the doctor specifically told the Niu Ben crew: "You can't let him do big actions, otherwise he will be injured again and there will be no treatment." . "After the filming started, Niu Ben slapped himself twice and continued to slap him. The doctor who couldn't stand it rushed into the camera and severely stopped him. "If you hit me again, the real bones won't be able to be reattached." After watching the replay, it turned out that he had been slapped. After the shooting mission was completed, he did not continue to fight. The next morning, Niu Ben was taken to the airport and sent home by Shanghai ambulance to recuperate.
When he recalled this many years later, he did not complain or complain, but was grateful, "During my film career, I received help from many people when I encountered difficulties. Now that I am 90 years old, I am still alive and well and can continue to act. I am very grateful. "
Niu Ben and his wife (remade by Zhang Jie)
In 2015, 80-year-old Niu Ben participated in the filming of "Old Man Seagull". The film was adapted from "Old Man Seagull" Wu Qingheng and told the story of a lonely old man feeding gulls who helped a 6-year-old The story of an autistic Buyi boy opening his heart. There was a scene in the film where Wu Qingheng was about to go into the water to save a boy. “The director had prepared a stand-in for me, and I said I would do it myself, no need for a stand-in. "It was very cold at that time, so Niu Ben jumped directly into the cold water.
No matter how small the role was, Niu Ben devoted himself to it and tried his best to inject life and brilliance into the role. Niu Ben had worked with Xu Huanshan, Wu Tianming and other veteran actors co-starred in the movie "Flying Over the Nursing Home". This movie tells the story of a group of elderly people in Guanshan Nursing Home who seek pure happiness and meaning in life together in order to realize the final value of their lives. The character Niu Ben is a character. The old man who was paralyzed in bed did not have a single line. But in his opinion, although there were no lines, it did not mean that this character had no performance, so he suggested to the director that if he played this role just lying in bed, Without lines and actions, the scene looked like a dead person. He decided to act "alive". Niu Ben said, "I have to sit up. This is not possible." The illness prevented him from sitting up, Niu Ben said, “It’s okay. I have seen in life that such a person can sit up if he is placed under the window and tied with something. Although I have no lines, I can make inarticulate sounds and rumble my throat to express my emotions. "As soon as the director heard that he was very good, he took the suggestion and tied him to the railing to sit up and act. The filming effect was very good. This kind of unspeakable sound was very taxing on the voice, which caused Niu Ben's vocal cords to be injured." After that, I was speechless for a week. But I don't care about that anymore, I just want to play this role well. "
I have been acting all my life. Most of my roles are supporting roles. I have never played a leading role. Do you feel aggrieved? In this regard, Niu Ben's answer is sincere, "No matter what I play, it is a role given to me by the job. Everyone always wants to do something earth-shattering and spectacular, but next to the powerful big man, there must be some people who cooperate with him in order to accomplish something. I'm the one who works with the big guys. For example, in our era, my friend and actor Zhao Dan's image is very suitable for playing a hero, so it would be good for me to play a supporting little character next to him. I know very well that I don’t have big eyes, long eyelashes, or broad shoulders. My image is that of a thin, ordinary person. I play a small character, and I play ordinary people.I believe that as long as I am serious about artistic creation and perform well, I will be remembered by the people. I have always believed that there are no small roles, only great actors. No matter how small the role, he is still a complete character. "
Cover news reporter interviews Niu Ben at his retirement apartment in Niuben, Pudong, Shanghai (Photo: Zhang Jie)
Zhang Yimou likes: "Thumbs up for the old man's artistic ethics"
Niu Ben's dedication has impressed the film director Zhang Yimou who has worked with him I was deeply impressed. In the preface "Thumbs up for the old man's artistic ethics" written for Niu Ben's autobiography book "Playing a Little Person in a Lifetime", Zhang Yimou wrote, "The old man is a good actor with brilliance, characteristics and personality. When I was a child, I watched Mr. Niu Ben's movies, "Red Detachment of Women" and "Soul of the Sea"; after the reform and opening up, I saw his particularly outstanding performance in "The Wrangler". I just thought, if I become a director one day, I will definitely hire this old man. Finally there is an opportunity for cooperation. When he first arrived on the set, I went to greet him. He is 16 years older than me, almost a generation apart. Moreover, he is still a child star who started acting at the age of 11. The actors he worked with were Bai Yang, Zhao Dan, and Yu Lan, and the directors who took him to film were Shen Fu, Zhang Junxiang, Xie Jin... They are all masters and everyone. But the old man was so humble and sincere when he met me. I was very touched... Their generation regards the people as their parents and art as their life. Once he joined the crew, he was no longer a top performer, nor was he an actor who had won the Golden Rooster Award and Hundred Flowers Award many times. He has integrated into the character and become ‘the one’ on the screen in the future. Costumes, props, makeup... every department that came into contact with him said that the old man was "competitive". A piece of clothing, a straw hat, a touch of stubble... When Mr. Niu Ben comes to him, he will make them come alive; a line, a sigh, a tear, Mr. Niu Ben will make them vivid. If Mr. Niu Ben is put into the group of performers, I dare say that no one will recognize him as a star. Someone will only ask him: "Which country and town do you live in? Are you here to go to the market or to do work?" '"
Niu Ben is serious about his work, but he doesn't have the usual airs of a "top student". Zhang Yimou also feels deeply about this: "Teacher Niu Ben has his own strong energy in acting, and his work attitude is also as stubborn as a cow's. , but he does not show his seniority and can listen to different opinions. There was a scene where a few of them walked towards the mirror. I saw Teacher Niu Ben glance to the side and hurriedly shouted to stop. When I asked quietly, the old man said that he had specially designed it to show the character's relaxed state. I said that in the prescribed situation at this moment, it is not appropriate to look away, otherwise the audience will become distracted and lose their focus. The old man thought for a moment and slapped his forehead: ‘The director is right. You stand for the overall situation, while I only stand for the individual when designing characters. If you are right, I will obey! ’ To be honest, I’m quite embarrassed. There were so many people at the scene, but the old man didn't feel like he couldn't get off the stage at all. He immediately followed my suggestion and took a few more photos, all of which were very exciting. While I praise the old man's acting skills, I also give a thumbs up to the old man's artistic ethics. "
